When I was a little girl, one of my younger brothers and my favorite thing to do with our Dad was to go with him and watch as he removed beaver dams in streams and creeks on our family’s ranch. Joel and I would try to “help” by grabbing what branches and debris we...
Truth matters to me because I have experienced how dark and depressing it can be to believe those lies. How hopeless and discouraging it is when I allow my thoughts and feelings to be affected by Satan’s deception, and when I let those thoughts and feelings drive me, my actions and attitudes are harmful to myself and others and no earthly good to God’s Kingdom.
A lot happens in the week between Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday. Reflecting on the reminder that God’s purposes have prevailed.
I’m going to try really hard to be consistent in sharing what books I am reading each month! Here are the books on my ranch table for January:
God doesn’t keep a heavenly score of who’s reading their Bible every day and who isn’t. He is, however, concerned about our hearts, and ultimately keeping up with my commitment to read God’s Word – even on days I didn’t feel like it – meant that I had instilled a daily habit in my life where the day didn’t feel complete if I hadn’t read that day’s chapters.
I love Thanksgiving, the opportunity to stop & consider all of the ways God is good & merciful, & how His steadfast love endures forever. To recognize how He provides, protects, redeems, refines, & strengthens.
I found myself kind of depressed as I read the book of Jeremiah! He warned the people of Jerusalem that there was judgment coming their way if they didn’t repent of their sins, but God kept telling him it was too late. In fact, at one point, in chapter 14, God...
Six beneficial keys to having a fruitful Quiet Time.
I recently was blessed to take part in a training and book study with Compel Training and one of my favorite authors, Jennifer Dukes Lee, who wrote “Growing Slow”. I loved everything about this workshop, but this exercise on detail in our writing was definitely one of...
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17 NKJV When I think about stories of weaponry, I can’t help but think about when my brother, Joel, and I were kids and Dad sent us out to the barn to clean up...
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV) I lay in my bed, rendered helpless to fight against the ongoing attacks on my mind: conflict, fear, confusion, hurt, deception, grief. Satan was shooting...
"Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." Ephesians 6:16 The crabapples came from out of nowhere as soon as I walked out the door. I couldn't see where the enemy was firing from. Still, it...
Do you choose a word for the year? I’ve hesitated to do it in the past because I haven’t ever felt strongly enough about any particular word to claim for an entire year. Possibly because of my love for words, I’ve found it hard to pin down just one to encapsulate all...
How does the armor of God prepare us to stand?
Just as the armor protected the body of a soldier, the breastplate of righteousness works to protect us in this spiritual battle, keeping us from opening ourselves up to attacks from the enemy and falling further into sin. A soldier on the battlefield wouldn’t be able to effectively fight without his breastplate in place for fear of being mortally wounded. So we too need to be armed with God’s righteousness covering our hearts to fight the enemy effectively.
A belt for an old cowboy is important to keep his pants cinched tight, a belt for a Roman soldier is important to keep his tunic gathered, and his sword close by, and the belt of truth is of utmost importance in the armor of the Christian Believer.
Battle weary from constant conflict in our society, how are we to respond? God’s Word tells us how & points us to the real enemy.
What is one secret to a marriage that lasts? Be on guard for little foxes! Taking care of small sins before they destroy your marriage.
See what books are on my ranch table this month.
Guest Post by Theresa Miller Rounding a corner, I anticipated the finish just ahead. Picking up my pace, joy welled within my chest and caught my throat. I could hardly breathe through the emotion. As I zeroed in on that banner before me, the tears welling knew...
Judgment of others and circumstances is an often misunderstood idea from a biblical perspective. What is God’s precepts according to His Word?
August Ranch Table Books: These are the books that I’ve been reading through July and August, and to be honest with you, I’m only partway done with them! But isn’t that the way summer is? We are outside until late, and by the time we get dinner eaten and cleaned up I...
Six years later, what grief has given me.
In a time of drought, and selling off some of our herd of cattle, I’ve learned the lesson of where my identity comes from.
What does self-control look like in the life of a Believer who is yielded to the working of the fruit of the Spirit?
How Biblical Gentleness is expressed in our lives through the fruit of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, FAITHFULNESS, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 “Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my FatherThere is no shadow of turning with TheeThou changest not, Thy compassions, they...
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, GOODNESS, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 “There was a little girl, Who had a little curl, Right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good, She was very good...
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, LONG-SUFFERING, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) Springtime has come to the Rockies, which means we are dealing with cold temperatures, snow, and ice one day, then...
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy , PEACE, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) Some days peace is the attribute of the Fruit of the Spirit that is the hardest for me to grasp. Yet, I desperately...
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) One of my favorite parts of being human is experiencing joy...not just that feeling of happiness we get when...
Love gives us the distinguishing mark of Jesus and characterizes us as His followers. Loving others sometimes costs us something that we won’t receive back. There are times when loving won’t result in any kind of reward or benefit. But that is precisely how Jesus has loved us!
It’s that time of year when I find myself facing the question, “Do I make a New Year’s Resolution or not?” Making (and inevitably breaking) resolutions are a love/hate relationship for me, making me nearly go into a complete panic at the thought of it. I have...
Sometimes we can make unwise or unspiritual choices. . . hoping that in the end, everything will be fine – when truthfully it’s really easy to create a bad ending!